In yet another blow to Afghan livelihoods, Taliban intelligence forces have reportedly detained several protesters in Mazar-i-Sharif after demonstrations broke out against the planned demolition of long-standing shops in the city’s auction market, according to local sources.
Witnesses say the clampdown began with the arrest of Dawood Kalantar, a shopkeeper who had joined Tuesday’s protest. When fellow traders went to inquire about his whereabouts, they too were detained—adding a layer of fear to an already volatile situation.
The protests erupted when Taliban officials moved to demolish stores without prior notice. The shopkeepers pushed back, pointing out that the regime has been collecting taxes from them for years. Now, without warning or compensation, their businesses; some passed down through generations, face complete destruction.
“These properties have been in our families for over 40 years,” said one resident. “They’ve taxed us, profited off us, and now they want to erase us.”
Many traders demanded alternative business locations if the demolitions were to proceed. They warned that hundreds of families would lose their only source of income, adding further strain to an economy already on the verge of collapse.
In response, Haji Zaid, spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Balkh, confirmed the demolitions were ordered by higher authorities in Kabul. He claimed the land has been contracted out for a “redevelopment” project—a new commercial market. He also noted that discussions were underway with protesters, though locals remain sceptical of the sincerity or transparency of such talks.
Tuesday’s unrest is just one scene in a broader, troubling picture of Taliban governance. While the regime claims to be modernising, its actions point to repression, not reform. Shops that once symbolised decades of local enterprise are being bulldozed in favour of state-linked redevelopment projects, often without due process or dialogue.
This land grab is part of a growing pattern. Similar forced evictions have been reported in Bamiyan and other provinces. Meanwhile, the Taliban continue to choke Afghanistan’s struggling economy, offer no solutions for job creation, and remain indifferent to the humanitarian crisis unfolding around them.
Worse still, the regime continues to muzzle independent media, persecute women, and ban not only formal education for girls but even religious instruction. It has also failed to curb the influence of more than 20 active terrorist groups operating within the country, as recently confirmed by Russian officials.
So when Taliban bulldozers roll through marketplaces, they aren’t just razing buildings—they’re flattening what little hope remains for countless Afghans.
Because under Taliban rule, it’s not just concrete that’s crumbling, it’s the future itself.
